scenic eastern escarpment - Blue Mountains City Council

East Escarpment Master Plan-0917.qxp_Layout 1 28/9/17 5:31 pm Page 1

SCENIC EASTERN ESCARPMENT DRAFT MASTER PLAN


CONTENTS

2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3

ACKNOWLDEGEMENT

6

1

INTRODUCTION

7

2

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

9

3

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

8

4

MASTER PLAN CONTEXT

11

5

THE SITE

14

6

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

23

7

MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY

25

8

MATERIALS PALLET

52

9

IMPLEMENTATION

55

10

PLAN REVIEW AND EVALUATION

63

11

BIBLIOGRAPHY

63

Document Version

Date

Review

V1 - Draft for Public Exhibition

28 Sept 2017

S Mortensen

SCEN I C EAST ER N ESC AR PM EN T M AST ER P L AN

Approval


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan is strategic planning tool, and is being prepared by Blue Mountains City Council to guide the future of nature and culture based recreation in the lower Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains Eastern Escarpment is located on the fringe of Western Sydney on the lands of Darug and Gundungurra People. Yallomundee Regional Park forms the northern section of the escarpment, the Nepean River lies to the east, and Blue Mountain National Park lies to the South. The Master Plan covers 966 hectares of predominantly natural bushland reserves spread across more than 140 parcels of public land which are managed by multiple public authorities. The site supports high conservation bushland including two endangered ecological communities. The Eastern Escarpment contains historic road and rail sites that are of state and national significance including two early 19th century roads that are still in use. The now disused railway alignments, contribute to the extensive network of tracks and trails that support a wide range of passive and active recreational activities across the site. The Master Plan has been prepared following a review of public land tenure and public access, an assessment of recreational infrastructure and heritage assets and a survey of recreational activity across the site. Consultation with the Aboriginal community, public land managers, site users and stakeholders was central to the preparation of the Master Plan. The recommendations made in the Master Plan are based around the 5 key themes: 1. Land ownership and management; 2. Local and regional connections (visitor access and directional signage); 3. Development of recreational opportunities (including site interpretation); 4. Facility Upgrades (lookouts, walking tracks, visitor entry); and 5. Visitor Management A summary of the major recommendations are outline below.

Lennox Bridge SCE N I C EAST ER N ESC AR PM EN T M AST ER P L AN

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Item no

Location

Proposed Action

Priority

Cost Estimate

Ownership

Establish agreed position on future public access and management for multi tenure land parcels as outlined in Section 7.1

High

$42,000

Multiple ownership

Remediation of disused mushroom farm materials and equipment, site dewatering and access control

High

$500,000

Crown Lands

Investigate opportunity to formalise right of way/ acquisition to allow public access to Eastern Portal from Lucasville Rd

High

$12,000

BMCC

Investigate feasibility to establish new lookout in conjunction with crown lands and Railcorp

High

$6,000

Rail Corp

Land Management LM 1

Eastern Escarpment Precinct

LM 2

Lapstone Hill Tunnel

LM 3

Entry to Eastern Portal Lapstone Hill Tunnel (LHT)

LM 4

Unnamed lookout on Rail Corp land

LM 5

Knapsack Reserve

Additional crown land including Crown Reserve 751662 and Crown Reserve 25949 be considered in the recommendation for future recreational opportunities

High

BMCC staff time

BMCC

LM 6


Work with traditional Owners in providing opportunities to maintain cultural practice

High

BMCC staff time

BMCC

$560,000 Local and Regional Connections LRC 1

Bush Place to Bluff Reserve

Feasibility study and survey of new section of walking track linking Bush Place (and Glenbrook township) to Bluff Reserve

High

$15,000

BMCC/Crown Lands

LRC 2

Yellomundee Regional Park to Knapsack Reserve

Feasibility study and survey for shared trail linking Yellomundeee RP with Knapsack Reserve. Investigate preferred alignment and costing

High

$31,000

BMCC

LRC 3

Bluff Reserve to Glenbrook Gorge

Medium

$20,000

Multiple ownership

LRC 4

Lower Mountain Townships to Penrith CBD

Feasibility study to investigate preferred alignment and costing Lower Mountains to Penrith Principal Network (shared path)

High

$162,000

BMCC/PCC

LRC 5


Adaptive reuse and feasibility investigation

High

$90,000

Crown Lands

LRC 6

Lapstone Hill Tunnel Eastern Cutting

Investigate Feasibility and develop dewatering methodology for LHT cutting

High

$20,000

Crown Lands

LRC 7

Bruce Road Glenbrook

Extend foot path from Bush Place to National Park Entry

High

$132,000

BMCC

LRC 8

Bush Place to Bluff Reserve

Construct new section of walking track linking Bush Place to Bluff Reserve

High

$251,250

Crown Lands

LRC 9

Eastern Escarpment reserve

Precinct wide directional signage plan

High

$33,000

BMCC

LRC 10


Fabricate and install directional signage

High

$85,000

Multiple ownership

Feasibility study to investigate preferred alignment and costing of walking track between Bluff Reserve and Glenbrook Gorge

$839,250 Development of Recreational Opportunities DRO 1


RDO 2

Glenbrook STP site

Develop Cultural Heritage Interpretation plan

High

$96,000

BMCC

Adaptive reuse and feasibility investigation for Bike Skills Park, Community Garden, or other use

High

$55,000

BMCC

$151,000

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Item no

Location

Proposed Action

Priority

Cost Estimate

Ownership

Knapsack Clubhouse/ Hub -Multi purpose public building for sporting and other site based events

High

$800,000

BMCC

Drainage and erosion control along walking track or relaignment

High

$72,000

BMCC

Shared path connecting STP access road to new carpark at Knapsack Park. Approx. 280 lm (Needs to be incorporated into Knapsack Park upgrade plans)

High

$207,200

BMCC

Facility Upgrades FU1

Knapsack Park Sports Ground

FU2

Track Lovers Walk to Whitton Memorial Park

FU3

Barnet St

FU4

Siding Lookout

Upgrade Lookout facilities

High

$99,155

BMCC

FU5

Lapstone Zig Zag

Repair and protect culverts

High

$40,000

BMCC

FU6

Elizabeths Lookout

Upgrade lookout facilities

Medium

$122,553

BMCC

FU7

Marges Lookout

Upgrade lookout facilities

Medium

$132,179

BMCC

FU8

Knapsack Bridge (creek line) to Elizabeths Lookout

High

$337,581

RMS/BMCC

FU9

Quarry Lookout

Medium

$34,447

BMCC

FU10

Entry to Eastern Portal Lapstone Hill Tunnel (LHT)

Upgrade existing walking track to shared path (700m x 2m) from Governors Drive to East Portal entry. (Following dewatering)

High

$472,500

Crown Lands

FU11

Darks Common tramway between Explorers Road and Tramway Terminus

Upgrade surface of shared track to class 1 level, following line of historic tramway. Approx. 860 lm. (alternative upgrade to Lapstone Zig Zag)

High

$348,750

Crown Lands

FU12

Lookout below Ross Lookout near power pole

Remove failing lookout barriers and restrict access by closing track and removing timber steps, install 30m mesh post and rail fencing

High

$30,000

Crown Lands

FU13

Ross Lookout

Replace existing lookout fencing with new mesh fencing, and provide one seat as per BMCC PDTM

High

$33,000

Crown Lands

FU14

Unnamed lookout on Rail Corp land

Construct fencing, lookout platform and signage

High

$91,893

Rail Corp

High

$15,000

BMCC

Medium

$50,000

BMCC

Restore and upgrade existing walking track Upgrade Quarry Lookout

$2,821,257 Visitor Management VM1


Monitor site use and visitor activity biennially to inform site management and amendments to the Master Plan

VM2


Marketing and Promotion

$65,000 Total

$4,436,507


5


ACKNOWLEDGMENT The Blue Mountains local government area lies within the Country of the Darug and Gundungurra Peoples, who hold a deep and unbroken connection, and respect for their Country. For Darug and Gundungurra People, Ngurra (Country) takes in everything within the physical, cultural and spiritual landscape landforms, waters, air, trees, rocks, plants, animals, foods, medicines, minerals, stories and special places. It includes cultural practice, kinship, knowledge, songs, stories and art, as well as spiritual beings, and people: past, present and future. The part of Ngurra now referred to as the Eastern Escarpment is highly significant to Darug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners, who retain a rich cultural, spiritual and economic relationship with the area. There are many places of great importance in this part of Ngurra which embody this relationship. The highpoints of the escarpment provide platforms with panoramic vistas encompassing Darug Ngurra, and beyond to the Ngurra of the Gundungurra and other peoples. It is interwoven with ancient pathways and spiritual tracks or ‘songlines’ that cross the Mountains, connecting valley and plain with the plateaus and ridgetops, indelibly infusing the culture and lore of the Darug and Gundungurra into the landscape. The environment in this part of Ngurra is rich, with abundant natural resources that provided Traditional Owners with a vibrant and productive economy for millennia, allowing countless generations to grow up healthy, strong and connected to Ngurra. Although this economy was greatly disrupted by European colonisation, Traditional Owners retain an unbroken connection to Ngurra and an aspiration for present and future generations to grow and thrive from Ngurra. Darug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners recognise that the profound changes brought about by colonisation pose a significant challenge to this aspiration. The decline of rivers and wetlands, infestation of pest plants and animals, damage to cultural sites, noise and light pollution, have all taken their toll on Ngurra. The interests and aspirations of Traditional Owners in caring for, nourishing and benefiting from Ngurra will be a central principle of this Master Plan.

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1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background The Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan is being prepared as part of Council’s visitor precinct planning to provide a strategic and place-based approach to the management of natural areas and the nature and culture-based recreation activities that they support. Council has identified the need for a coordinated response to the management and development of nature and culturebased recreation and tourism experiences in the lower Blue Mountains. To this end the Eastern Escarpment Master Plan forms the basis for resourcing and implementing visitor facility upgrades and developments to improve these recreation and tourism experiences. Reserve based planning for Knapsack Park and Lapstone (Tunnel Gully) Reserve has previously been carried out by Council. The Eastern Escarpment Master Plan takes a broader approach to the development of recreational facilities, and is being prepared as a response to the demands in the lower Blue Mountains and Western Sydney Region. The Master Plan has been developed in collaboration with neighbouring land managers to provide a coordinated approach to recreational opportunities and facilities development. This coordinated approach to recreational facility planning will guide Council in responding effectively to: •

Growing community demands for recreational opportunities;

•

Tourism and local economic development opportunities;

•

Community health and well-being needs; and

•

Opportunities for understanding the site’s cultural heritage.

Key driving factors for the development of the Master Plan are: •

The existing recreational infrastructure across multiple reserves, including walking tracks, signage and fencing, is in significant need of repair or replacement.

•

Forecast population growth in Western Sydney, with an associated increase in recreational demand on facilities in the lower Blue Mountains.

•

Latent heritage infrastructure offering significant opportunity for nature and culture-based recreation and tourism experiences.

•

The need for a common approach to recreation management across public reserves under the management of multiple government authorities and corporations

1.2 Study Area The Eastern Escarpment is located on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains, fringing Western Sydney and within an hour’s transport by train or car from the City of Sydney. The site extends from Darkes Common in the south, adjoining the Blue Mountains National Park, to Knapsack Reserve in the north, and connecting with Yellomundee Regional Park. The western boundary of the precinct is formed by the residential areas of Lapstone, Glenbrook, Winmalee, Mt Riverview and Yellow Rock, while the eastern boundary is formed by the residential townships of Emu Heights, Emu Plains, Leonay and Lapstone, and the Nepean River. The Blue Mountains Eastern Escarpment is a unique geographic locality, with the Lapstone Monocline, the site supports significant areas of bushland including the critically endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest (STIF) and Shale Sandstone Transition Forest. The site contains and protects important Aboriginal sites including art sites, tool making sites and shelters. The eastern escarpment also contains extensive historical road and rail infrastructure associated with the early British incursion of NSW. The focus of the Master Plan is on Council managed land and Crown land within the study area, however, it will also be responsive to opportunities that provide connections with the adjoining public reserve in the region managed by Penrith Council and National Parks and Wildlife Services.

Mitchells Pass

SCE N I C EAST ER N ESC AR PM EN T M AST ER P L AN

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2

GUIDING PRINCIPALS

The Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan is being developed in accordance with the following guiding principles: •

Protection of the natural and cultural heritage values of the Eastern Escarpment is central to any decision making around recreational opportunities and the associated development of facilities.

•

The Plan is supportive of Traditional Owners aspirations for protecting and caring for Country.

•

Provision of inclusive access for future recreational opportunities, including accessible tracks, lookouts and multilingual interpretation.

•

Design and construction of facilities that support recreational activity to be of a high quality and consistent with triple bottom line principles of sustainability.

•

Consultation and engagement with stakeholders including traditional owners, residents, reserve users and adjoining public land managers is central to shaping a shared vision for the Eastern Escarpment.

•

The Plan is developed in a collaborative manner with adjoining public land managers.

•

The Plan is responsive to regional planning initiatives by local and state government in the areas of recreation and tourism, environmental protection and local economic development.

•

Research and surveys on site use will be used to guide priorities and decisions on infrastructure renewal and site management.

Glenbrook Gorge SCE N I C EAST ER N ESC AR PM EN T M AST ER P L AN

9


3

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 Master Plan Purpose The purpose of the Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan (the Master Plan) is to provide a clear vision for the future development of recreational opportunities and the necessary infrastructure, as well as the future management of the site’s natural, cultural and recreational values. Secondary aims of the Master Plan are to: •

Facilitate promotion of the site’s outstanding cultural, natural heritage and recreational attractions for the lower Blue Mountains; and

•

Facilitate a coordinated approach to managing the precinct’s recreational facilities across different land tenures.

3.2 Objectives The Scenic Eastern Escarpment Master Plan aims to provide a strategic basis for decision-making on the future management of recreational infrastructure, and guide the development of recreational opportunities in the Eastern Escarpment for the next 10-15 years while protecting and enhancing the significant environmental and cultural values of the site. The Plan will also support future management of the natural landscape and associated environmental and cultural assets for public reserves not currently covered by a Plan of Management. The following key objectives of the Master Plan have been identified by Council: 1. Ensure that the site’s character, values and quality are appropriately conserved or enhanced with any use, activity or development; 2. Allow considered decisions on infrastructure works in the context of the significant environmental and cultural values of the site and recreational demand; 3. Prioritise the management and upgrade of existing infrastructure and the development of new recreational infrastructure; 4. Strengthen walking and bike riding opportunities in the lower mountains; 5. Prioritise nature and culture-based recreational development with reference to other regional recreational opportunities; 5. Engage with key stakeholders on access to and promotion of the site’s outstanding natural and cultural heritage values and assets; 6. Establish a prioritised action plan for the management of recreational infrastructure across different public land tenures; 7. Provide a sound basis for internal and external funding bids for infrastructure renewal and upgrade works, heritage items and environmental restoration; 8. Provide background reference and guidance to the development of any further design and planning work required to implement the recommendations of the Master Plan.

Knapsack Viaduct 10



4.2 District Plans

4

The Greater Sydney Commission’s Draft West District Plan includes the Sydney Green Grid, modeled on a Parramatta City Council initiative. This identifies regionally significant recreational opportunities and connections between open space across Western Sydney, the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains. The Eastern Escarpment Open Space Trails is identified as a priority project in West District Plan’s Green Grid.

MASTER PLAN CONTEXT

4.1 Regional Reserve Planning

Other priority action identified in the Draft District West Plan of relevance to the Master Plan include:

The Eastern Escarpment Master Plan is being developed with reference to the existing Plans of Management for two reserves within the site, as well as a number of major adjoining reserves in close proximity to the Eastern Escarpment. Relevant plans include: •

Draft District Plan West, Green Grid 2016. Greater Sydney Commission

•

Wianamatta Regional Park Master Plan, 2013. National Parks and Wildlife Services.

•

Yellomundee Regional Park Plan Of Management, 2009. (NPWS)

•

Blue Mountains National Park Plan of Management. 2001 (NPWS)

•

Nepean Riparian Reserve Master Plan 2014. Eco Logical Australia for Penrith City Council.

•

Penrith Lakes Parkland Draft Vision Plan 2014 Office of Sport Penrith Lakes

•

Develop infrastructure to support the growth of the visitor economy (P3)

•

Conserve and enhance environmental heritage including Aboriginal, European and natural heritage (L13)

The Eastern Escarpment Master Plan provides a means by which these priorities can be delivered. The Sydney Green Grid provides a regional framework by which precinct and local planning for open space development and activation, recreation, and low carbon transport options are integrated with other regional open space planning and development initiatives. Recreational opportunities of regional significance within the Eastern Escarpment, and connections with neighbouring reserves will be recommended to be incorporated into the final Western Sydney Green Grid and Final version of the West District Plan.

4.3 Regional Connections

The master planning process has included a review of these existing plans and associated studies to inform the recreational planning proposals for the Eastern Escarpment. Project proposals on recreational infrastructure development have been made in consideration of and in context with these plans. The Master Plan has sought to support any shared objectives of relevant plans, and identify opportunities for collaborative projects.

Transport connections for non-motorised transport between regional centres of the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Penrith are limited. There is an existing network of trails, footpaths and roads, however, there is no clearly defined connections with adequate infrastructure to allow pedestrians and bike riders to easily move between these centers.

Figure 1 Regional Planning Context

A number of regional trails intersect on the Eastern Escarpment. Although these regional trails are at different stages of development, they provide a primary attraction and entry point into the locality. Regional trails provide the opportunity for visitors to further explore a place and all that it has to offer. Regional trails connecting with the Eastern Escarpment are: •

Oaks Woodford trail, connecting Woodford to Glenbrook;

•

The Great Western Walk – Route through the Blue Mountains from Penrith to Katoomba. This route uses the Knapsack viaduct and Lovers’ Walk linking Emu Plains station to Glenbrook Station; and

•

The Great River Walk - Proposed walk from Goulburn to Broken Head along the Hawkesbury Nepean River. A completed section exists between the M4 and Victoria Bridge along the Nepean River in Penrith, and a trail on the west side of the Nepean River starting at Emu Heights within Yellomundee RP.

In addition to the Regional Trails, opportunities for regional connections between the Lower Mountains and Penrith City have been identified as the ‘Principal Network’ by BMCC and PCC and include: •

Lapstone train station to Penrith CBD via River Road Reserve;

•

Blaxland Station to Penrith CBD via Mitchells PassStation; and

•

Glenbrook to Penrith CBD via Explorers Rd, Knapsack Reserve and Great Western Highway


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4.4 Tourism Domestic and international visitors are major contributors to the Blue Mountains economy. The economic benefit of the tourism industry for the Blue Mountains is estimated at $421mil p.a. and accounts for 12.9% of total employment. The Blue Mountains receives 2.9 million visits per annum, and this visitation is forecast to increase to 3.4 mil p.a. by 2020, and to 4.1 mil p.a. by 2025. (1) The Upper Mountains has the larger share of the tourism activity, however the lower Blue Mountains make an important contribution to the industry. Site user survey for the Eastern Escarpment conducted during June 2017 found that 44% of visitors were from outside the Blue Mountains Council area. (2) Glenbrook township is the main entry to the Blue Mountains from the east and supports important visitor infrastructure including the Visitor Information Centre, and popular destinations such Euroka camp-ground and Jelly Bean pool within the Blue Mountains National Park. The Eastern Escarpment offers some unique visitor experiences, and with the provision of supporting infrastructure, there is the potential for this area to provide for significant nature and culture based tourism opportunities. Eastern Escarpment visitor experiences opportunities include:

Gate Keepers Cottage

•

Nature based tourism;

•

Mountain bike trails;

•

Rail Trail (shared and accessible trail);

•

Historic heritage; and

•

Indigenous heritage.

The development and promotion of mountain bike trails, accessible walks and historic heritage tourism particularly, provide alternative visitor opportunities to those that exist elsewhere in the region. Positioned close to Penrith City, which is seeking to establish itself as an adventure destination with attractions such as white water rafting and IFly, the Eastern Escarpment provides an easily accessible entry point into the nature and culture based recreational opportunities that exist in the Blue Mountains. The development and promotion of the Eastern Escarpment as a visitor destination provides an opportunity for increased local economic development, but also an alternative destination to visitors to the Blue Mountains. This is an important consideration of the Master Plan process, to provide a diverse range of visitor opportunities across the Blue Mountains while reducing visitor pressure on infrastructure in the upper mountains that is currently struggling with existing demand.

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4.5 Recreation Planning Blue Mountains Council is currently preparing the Open Space and Recreation strategy. The survey undertaken as part of this strategy provides a broad understanding of how residents and visitors access and use public open space for recreation across the city. Additionally, a site user survey and observation work carried out in June 2017 provides further site-specific data on how the site is used by visitors. The Open Space and Recreation Strategy will provide a citywide approach to respond to current demands and trends for recreation across the city. The Eastern Escarpment Master Plan provides an opportunity to respond to current recreation trends on a more site-specific basis providing detail on recreational planning for a designated precinct.


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Table 1: Eastern Escarpment Reserve and Destination

5

THE SITE

5.1 Land Tenure The Eastern Escarpment is comprised of multiple parcels of public land with multiple ownership and management responsibilities. The study area contains over 140 parcels of public reserve land, however the focus of the Master Plan is on reserves in the southern precinct of the Eastern Escarpment between Mitchells Pass and Darks Common where most of the recreational opportunities and associated infrastructure is located. The main reserve and places of interest are listed in Table 1.

Reserve

Destination / Place of Interest

Management

Hawkesbury Lookout Picnic shelters and toilets

Hawkesbury Lookout

NPWS BMCC

Knapsack Reserve (North of Mitchells Pass)

Mitchells Pass

BMCC

Knapsack Reserve

Lennox Bridge Bridal trail Lovers’ Walk Marges Lookout Elizabeth’s Lookout Knapsack Bridge (Viaduct) Walking tracks Shared trails Bike tracks single trail (XC trail) Bike track down hill

BMCC BMCC/Crown Lands BMCC/Crown Lands BMCC BMCC BMCC/RMS BMCC/Crown Lands BMCC/Crown Lands BMCC/Crown lands BMCC

Skarrett Park

Lapstone Zig Zag Siding Lookout Quarry Lookout

BMCC BMCC BMCC

Whitton Memorial Place

Pathway to Knapsack Bridge Whitton Memorial Gate Keepers Cottage

BMCC

Tunnel Gully Reserve / Lapstone Reserve

Walking track (Tramway)

BMCC

Crown Reserve 1013848


Crown Lands

Darks Common

Walking track (Tramway) Funicular Railway Informal Lookout over Glenbrook Gorge

Crown Lands Crown Lands Crown Lands / TNSW

Bluff Reserve - Brook Road Glenbrook

Chalmers Lookout

BMCC / TNSW

The other regional reserves on or adjacent to the Eastern Escarpment that are relevant to the regional recreational planning include: •

Blue Mountains National Park (NPWS)

•

Yellomundee Regional Park (NPWS)

•

Nepean River Reserves (Weir, Tench and River Road Reserves) (PCC)

As part of the Council Resolution on the 27th September 2016, three crown reserves managed by the Department of Primary Industries – Crown Lands are to be included in the master planning process. These land parcels are: •

Darks Common - 5 Explorers Rd, Lapstone.

•

Crown Reserve 1013848 - 16 Great Western Highway, Lapstone. (Lapstone Hill Tunnel East portal)

•

Crown Reserve 1013848 - 37 Great Western Highway, Glenbrook (Lapstone Hill Tunnel western portal)

BMCC Blue Mountains City Council | RMS Roads and Maritime Services TNSW Transport NSW (Rail Corp) | NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Services

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5.2 Aboriginal Culture and Heritage For Darug and Gundungurra Traditional Owners, this part of Country (Ngurra) known as the Eastern Escarpment represents a significant and abundant place which has nurtured and nourished countless strong and healthy generations since the creation time. Ngurra lives as a connected whole, present across time and space, physically, culturally and spiritually. Some aspects are invisible and intangible, while others physically demonstrate the culture which has been nurtured by it for millennia. It is important to remember that the tangible, physical aspects of Ngurra visible today are likely but a small remnant of the material culture of the Traditional Owners, made of materials which have withstood the ravages of time, such as stone and trees. Other material, such as shell, clay, leather, wood, twine and rope, paint, fur and feathers may not now be so apparent. Tangible aspects of Ngurra, still observable include: •

Living Places, such as open camps and rock shelters;

•

Places of Economy, Livelihood and Industry, such as quarries, stone tool and ochre factories, rock grinding grooves and wells;

•

Places of Art, Culture and Spirit, such as rock art, scarred trees, stone arrangements, distinctive landscape features, and burial places

Recognition of the subtle interaction of the tangible and intangible aspects on Ngurra and the profound role it plays in the lives of Traditional Owners will be a founding principle of this Master Plan. Documented records of Aboriginal occupation on the Eastern Escarpment extend to 24,000 years before present. (3) The extent of documented sites across the Eastern Escarpment demonstrates these lands were regularly used and populated by Aboriginal people. A 1989 study by the Department of Planning identified a range of sites located within or near the Eastern Escarpment as outlined above. Previous Archaeological studies for the Knapsack Reserve and Tunnel Gully Reserve, commissioned by Council as part of the Plan of Management for these reserves, identified 15 sites within these two reserves. The Shaw’s Creek site located at the northern end of the Eastern Escarpment within Yellomundee Regional Park, was gazetted as an Aboriginal Place in 2014, demonstrating the importance of this area to Aboriginal people.


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5.3 Historic Heritage The historic railway cuttings and historic roads are a defining feature of the Eastern Escarpment, clearly demonstrating the history of European settlement. A number of obsolete rail alignments provide an important means of accessing the site as well as an opportunity to experience the history of the place. Table 2: Heritage Item Listing

Glenbrook Deviation Tunnel

Item

LEP 2015 Listing

State Heritage Register

National

Lapstone Zig Zag (1867)

G024

-

RNE: 18288

Lucasville Platform

G029

-

RNE: R 18288

Knapsack Gully Viaduct (1867)

G023

-

RNE: 3000

Knapsack Gully Viaduct (1912) existing Railway

G025

-

-

Lapstone Hill Tunnel and Cutting (1892)

G014 G018

SHI 01861

RNE: 18228

Glenbrook Railway Deviation 1912 (Glenbrook Tunnel and existing rail line)

G017

-

-

The Spurline (Darks Common - tramway) (1913) and Funicular Railway alignment

G005

-

-

Whitton Memorial Park

G026

-

-

Gate Keeper’s Cottage

G013

-

-

Mitchell’s Pass (1833) (Mile post Indicator)

BX 004

-

Lennox Bridge (1833)

G027

SR0004

RNE R 2991

Old Bathurst Road (1828)

BX003

-

-

Cox’s Road alignment (1814)*

-

-

-

The Bluff

G004

-

-

Lapstone Monocline

L003

-

-

Former Railway Line and abandoned Tunnel (Tunnel Gully Reserve/ Skarrett Park)

*Cox’s Road traversed the eastern escarpment near Tunnel Gully Reserve, although no discernible evidence of the road remains and hence there is no listing for this location.

There are numerous other historic heritage items located on the Eastern Escarpment, many of which are associated with the early road and rail infrastructure. Thirty nine (39) sites of European Heritage were identified as part of the Knapsack Reserve Plan of Management, and four items were identified as part of the Tunnel Gully Reserve POM. The heritage assessment recognised that the site contained numerous historic sites of State and National significance, and that these sites are associated with a number of people significant to NSW cultural history including William Cox, Governor Macquarie, Major Thomas Mitchell, David Lennox, John Whitton, John Lucas, Charles Smith, Arthur Streeton, and numerous convict labourers. (3)

Lennox Bridge, Robert Marsh Westmcott Circ 1840s 16



Arthur Streeton’s ‘Fire’s on’ 1891 – Lapstone Hill Tunnel under construction

The Spurline, Darks Common


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Table 3: Vegetation Communities located within the Eastern Escarpment Master Plan Area and their significance at the local, state or commonwealth level

5.4 Natural Environment The Lapstone monocline is a significant geological feature which forms the major rise on the Eastern edge of the Blue Mountains and is recognised as one of the major structural features in the rocks around the Sydney Region. (5) The Hawkesbury Sandstone is the underling geological influence on the soils of the Eastern Escarpment, however there is some shale influences around Knapsack Reserve. Three major groups of soils occur on the Eastern Escarpment. These are classified as Residual -Faulconbridge group; Colluvial - Hawkesbury group; and Erosional - Gymea group. (6) The Hawkesbury group has an extreme erosion hazard, are typically shallow with low fertility. The Gymea group have a high erosion hazards, are shallow and highly permeable with very low soil fertility. The Faulconbridge group are shallow, with very low soil fertility, however are not as prone to erosion as the other 2 groups. (6) The sandstone and shale and derived soils on the Eastern Escarpment influence the rich diversity of native vegetation covering the site. The area supports at least 7 different types of vegetation communities. Five of the 7 communities present are locally significant vegetation communities within the Blue Mountains City and these are listed and described in the relevant Local Environmental Plan Schedule of Significant Vegetation Communities. Two of these significant communities are also listed as threatened ecological communities under State (NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995) and Commonwealth (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999) legislation. Table 3 provides a summary of the vegetation communities present within the Eastern Escarpment Master Plan area and their significance.

Vegetation Community Type

Local

State

Commonwealth

Backhousia myrtifolia – Ceratopetalum apetalum Rainforest

1B (scheduled)

-

-

Turpentine Ironbark Forest

2C (scheduled)

EEC – Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest

CEEC - Turpentine Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion

Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest

2D (scheduled)

CEEC – Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest

EEC - Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest

Blue Mountains Riparian Complex

6 (scheduled)

-

-

Eucalyptus piperita – Angophora costata Open Forest

11B (non-scheduled)

-

-

Corymbia gummifera – Corymbia exima Open forest

11C (non-scheduled)

-

-

Corymbia gummifera – Eucalyptus sparsifolia

11F (non-scheduled)

-

-

Scheduled – locally significant within Blue Mountains City Non-scheduled – not locally significant within Blue Mountain City VEC – Vulnerable Ecological Community EEC – Endangered Ecological Community CEEC – Critically Endangered Ecological Community

Vegetation communities are shown as background on the Local Area Plans. The extensive stands of bushland on both public and private land, contribute to the significant environmental and aesthetic values of the Eastern Escarpment. Responses from Have Your Say site user survey demonstrated that a majority of site users placed a high value on the natural environment and undeveloped nature of the places they used on the Eastern Escarpment.

View of escarpment bushland 18



5.5 Recreational Use Recreational use of public land on the Eastern Escarpment is a mix of passive activities such as sight-seeing, and active recreation such a trail running and bike riding. There are also a range of organised activities and events that occur on the site. An understanding of recreational use on the Eastern Escarpment was gained through a number of sources, including the Integrated Open Space Services (IOSS) recreational activity work in June 2017, the Have Your Say Webpage Site User Survey, Council records of event applications, and consultation with user groups. The activity observation work by IOSS showed that walking and nature appreciation followed by bike riding are the most popular recreational activities on the Eastern Escarpment. (2) A summary of activity by location is show in Table 4. The site IOSS survey was carried out over a 2-week period in June 2017. Track counter data from 2 locations that corresponded with the survey location was broadly consistent with the observe visitation rate for this time of year. During the peak period of January, visitation levels more than double winter visitation rates. Mountain biking is a popular activity on the Eastern Escarpment, with the Knapsack trail being the preferred place of interest nominated by survey respondents in the Have Your Say online survey (6). Survey work carried out for Council Nature Based Recreation Strategy nominated the Woodford Oaks Trail as the favorite XC mountain bike trail asset followed by Knapsack trails. Other bike related sports that occur on the site include dirt jump, down hill and some free riding. The construction of unapproved trails and jumps has been an ongoing issue in bushland reserves on the Eastern Escarpment. Table 4 provides a summary of the recreational activity by reserve showing total visitor numbers during the 2 week observation period. Table 5 shows the gender split by recreational activity (IOSS site observation survey).


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Table 4: Activity by Location

Values Walk

Darks Common

Hawkesbury Lookout West

91

Nature Appreciation Cycle

Hawkesbury Lookout East

Lapstone Zig Zag

Lennox Bridge

Lovers’ Walk

Tunnel Gully Reserve

Whitton Memorial Park

Bluff Reserve

Grand Total

23

101

19

11

181

54

480

7

326

38

2

153

2

5

105

12

16

100

8

5

63

15

4

58

276 41

Sit in/around Car. Drive in/out

8 56

Dog Walk - On lead

12

Dog Walk - Off lead Jog

43 2 31

3

18

30

21

3

6

25

16

11

4

12

11

Toilet break

14

34

Gathering Family/Friends

17

4

2

11 5

1

1

48 15

3

7

46

Heritage Appreciation

25

Maintenance

3

Model Car / Aircraft

6

6

1

6

Photography

5

Tai Chi

2

Meal Break/Break

3

Pick up Wood

3

Total

25 3

1

381

75

5

2

5 3

3 158

7

3

Trail Bike

40

Reserves in the Eastern Escarpment group are used for a range of events, with Knapsack Reserve being the most popular location for orienteering and trail running events (Running Wild) school cross country, as well as a range of informal organised events such as Facebook group running and mountain bike riding events. Other recreational activities that occur on site include the Glenbrook and District Historical Society which run regular heritage tours focused on the significant heritage items on the site.

20

42

3 319

88

15

263

100

1439

Additionally there are 10 Bushcare groups that work in public reserves on the Eastern Escarpment. Although Bushcare is primarily a conservation activity, it provides an important opportunity for socialising and passive recreation. There is limited organised tourism activity on the Eastern Escarpment. While the main public reserves are listed on many of the Nature Based licenses, commercial tour operators do not regularly use this area, as the focus for these activities (i.e. climbing, abseiling and canyoning) is in the upper mountains.



Table 5: Gender of Predominant Activities

Activity

Total no

Female

Male

Walk

480

56%

44%

Nature Appreciation (inc Bird Watching)

326

41%

59%

Cycle

153

11%

89%

Sit in/around Car. Drive in/out

105

30%

70%

Dog Walk - On lead

100

50%

50%

Dog Walk - Off lead

163

52%

48%

Jog

58

47%

53%

Toilet break

48

31%

69%

Gathering Family/Friends

46

48%

52%

Heritage Appreciation

25

48%

52%

1504

43%

57%

Average for all predominant activities

5.6 Site Access The Eastern Escarpment group of reserves is extensive and has many access points. The primary entry points include: •

Great Western Highway, Glenbrook – Whitton Memorial Park

•

Barnett St, Glenbrook – Knapsacks Reserve

•

Explorers Road Lapstone – Tunnel Gully Reserve, Dark Common

•

Emu Road Glenbrook – Chalmers Lookout

•

Mitchells Pass, Blaxland – Lennox Bridge

Secondary entry points include: •

Governors Drive Lapstone – Lapstone Reserve

•

Knapsack Street, Glenbrook – Lapstone Zig Zag

•

Lucasville Rd, Glenbrook – Lapstone Reserve

These primary and secondary access points are the focus of design work for visitor facilities associated with access and egress such as parking, toilets, information and directional signage. In addition to these primary and secondary access points, there are numerous other entry points into the public reserve network such as Olivet St in Glenbrook – Knapsack Reserve, which are predominantly used by residents. The train stations of Emu Plains, Lapstone, Glenbrook and Blaxland all provide access opportunities for reaching the reserve by public transport. Distances range between 1.25 km and 3.6 km between these train stations and the closest reserve. There are also opportunities for walking links, demonstrated by some existing walking circuits promoted by the non-government sector.


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5.7 Recreation Infrastructure The infrastructure that supports recreation on the Eastern Escarpment is extensive due to the size of the precinct. A summary of assets within the study is summarised in Table 6. Table 6: Summary of major recreational Infrastructure

Marges Lookout

Assets

Amount

Locations

Formal Lookouts

8

Knapsack Reserve, Bluff Reserve, Hawkesbury Lookout

Informal lookout

2

Darks Common, Rail Corp Land

Picnic Shelters

5

Knapsack Reserve, Bluff Reserve, Hawkesbury Lookout

Public toilets

1

Hawkesbury Lookout

Walking Track Class 2

1 km

Whitton Park/ Knapsack viaduct


3.15 km

Lapstone Zig Zag and Knapsack Reserve


3.7 km

Knapsack Reserve, Darks Common, Bluff Reserve


0.6 km

Tunnel Gully Reserve

Approved XC bike trail

6.7 km

Knapsack Reserve

Approved downhill bike trail

1.14 km

Knapsack Reserve

Formal Car Park

6

Knapsack Reserve (3), Whitton Park (1), Bluff reserve (1), Tunnel Gully/Lapstone (1)

5.8 Residential areas Residential areas surround the Eastern Escarpment group of reserves. This provides a challenge for any future increase in recreational activity, but also an opportunity to improve the recreational facilities for residents in the lower mountains and suburbs of Penrith LGA that adjoin the site. The design and planning of walking and bike links between reserves, and the development and upgrade of recreational facilities within the reserves takes into consideration potential impacts on residential amenity. Proposals for parking incorporate existing parking areas, and new parking areas are proposed in locations where there is minimal interface with residential properties. Emphasis on the development of shared pathways to connect reserve systems with townships and train stations, provides the necessary infrastructure to promote walking and riding, thereby reducing the reliance on the private motor vehicle to access the precinct.

Residential street and reserve access 22



6.3 Stakeholder Response

6

COMMUNICATIONS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

The engagement process revealed a number of common values held by site users regarding the Eastern Escarpment. These included a high value placed on the natural bushland setting and the undeveloped nature of the place, the opportunity to exercise, and the peace and quiet of the location. Other key messages from residents and local users (from the HYS survey and public meeting) were:

6.1 Methodology

•

High value placed on the natural character of the area and the proximity to their home;

•

The importance of environmental protection of the Eastern Escarpment;

•

A desire for the area to not be overdeveloped;

•

Concern over the impacts of bike riding on walkers, and construction of illegal trails;

•

The impact of parking on residential amenity, particularly around Lapstone oval and in Glenbrook on the weekend;

•

The impact of dog waste and off leash behaviour outside off-leash areas; and

The Have Your Say page on Council’s website was a central communication tool, providing detailed information on the project and a means of interaction between Council and stakeholders: www.bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au/seemasterplan

•

The impact on privacy and residential amenity from site users, and concern over increase in site use.

Supporting communications for the project included:

Consultation with the Aboriginal community of the proposed Master Plan lead to the key messages from traditional owners. These were:

•

Rates newsletter article

•

•

Media releases

Provide opportunity for natural resource harvesting and associated economic development as this will support and maintain and continuity of culture;

•

Facebook and Twitter feeds

•

Recognise and support the cultural value of the place and the connection Aboriginal people have with that place;

•

Site posters

•

Places (Aboriginal sites) have been damaged because they are unmanaged;

•

Public Meeting (16th May 2017)

•

Site interpretation needs to tell the truth (about history) even when it can be overwhelming;

•

The need to communicate the story of a site (a heads up) before you enter it; and

•

Immigrants (to Australia) bring their own stories. It is important to tell the stories of those who were here before, the local stories.

Early engagement with stakeholders was central to the master planning process. Two separate streams of consultation were applied to the project, firstly public land managers and secondly, site users, namely residents and interest groups. The consultation approach sought to develop a partnership with adjacent public land managers to develop a regionally based, cross tenure approach to the Master Plan. Particular emphasis was placed on working with the Department of Industries – Crown Lands and Water, Penrith City Council and National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS). Consultation with site users, including local residents and visitors, sought to understand how the site is used, what people value about the place and how they would like to see it managed in the future.

Meetings were also held with key user group representatives to discuss and review the Master Plan and its proposed recommendations prior to public exhibition.

6.2 Site User Survey The on-line self-selected survey on the Have Your Say (HYS) webpage collected data on site use, and also provided information on site values and priorities for site management and future use. In addition to this survey, Council engaged Integrated Open Space Services (IOSS) to carry out random intercept surveys of site users as well as observations of site use and recreational activity. This survey focused on providing additional data on site use, satisfaction with current site facilities and management, importance / satisfaction analysis for some key recreational facilities, as well as an opportunity to provide further suggestion for improvement. Both surveys collected data on site user profile including age, gender, and place of residence.

The IOSS survey asked respondents to rank their satisfaction from 1 (totally dissatisfied) to 10 (totally satisfied) for the park and its maintenance. There were 6 reserves assessed in the survey. The overall satisfaction for the park where respondents were interviewed was 8.8. and the mean satisfaction for maintenance of a wide range of assets was 7.7. A summary of the main management priorities and desires for future use gained from the two surveys and meetings with stakeholders is listed below. These are not necessarily in order of priority. •

Open the Lapstone Hill Rail Tunnel to the public – to provide a cycleway between Blue Mountains and Western Sydney, an opportunity for heritage appreciation and tourism;

•

Develop bike trails as a tourism destination for local economic development;

•

Environmental protection of flora and fauna;

•

Rehabilitation of degraded areas, control weeds;

•

Maintain the natural bushland character of the reserves;

•

Improve / repair existing (bike and walking) tracks in poor condition;

•

Keep available for dog walking and off-leash areas and provide more, with dog waste facilities;

•

More regular maintenance and cleaning of toilets, car parks, bins, picnic facilities;

•

Improve / provide more parking;

•

Provide more dog off-leash areas and dog waste facilities;


23


•

Provide more amenities - toilet facilities, drinking water, picnic shelters, bins, seats and tables, night lighting;

•

Provide better directional signage;

•

Provide interpretive signage and guided tours; and

•

Improve safety and security (Lovers Walk, Lennox Bridge).

The IOSS random survey importance / satisfaction analysis, demonstrated that there was an under provision of environmental and cultural interpretive information, environmental protection and rehabilitation works and upgrade of existing facilities. The analysis also showed that there was an over provision of the variety of easy to difficult walking trails, shared trails and bike trails. The latter finding conflicts with the many written comments requesting more bike trails. The HYS survey asked users to identify and prioritise areas for maintenance and upgrades. The results were: 1. Improve bike trails; 2. Improve walking tracks; 3. Construct more accessible tracks; 4. Environmental management (Weed and soil erosion); 5. Upgrade reserve facilities (fencing, seating, shelters, toilets); 6. Improve directional signage; 7. Preservation of, and improved access to heritage items and interpretation; and 8. Improved accessibility (provide car parks and public transport links).

6.4 Master Plan Response Key issues and challenges identified from the engagement process that will direct the overall approach and recommendations developed in the Master Plan are:

24

•

Effective management of the interaction between reserve users, particularly around walking and bike riding and offleash dog walking and bike riding;

•

Managing the conflicting priorities of reserve users particularly around the provision of more bike trails and the restriction of bike trails;

•

Managing the site in a way that is respectful of Aboriginal culture and provides an opportunity to continue cultural practice;

•

Managing the impact of recreation on the biodiversity and heritage value of the reserves;

•

Balancing the demand for more maintenance and more facilities against the level of site use and resource availability;

•

Determine and prioritise where to effectively apply any increase in resourcing for maintenance and upgrade across the large and multi-use sites;

•

Improving the condition of facilities such as tracks, lookouts and shelters without overdeveloping the bushland reserves;

•

Providing the opportunity for explorative play and adventure in a natural environment whilst mitigating the impact of site users on the natural and cultural values of the reserve; and

•

Managing the increasing demand for passive and active recreation, with the growing Sydney population, and the desire of site users to not overdevelop the site and to maintain its natural peaceful character.


scenic eastern escarpment - Blue Mountains City Council

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